Tranquility 27 4 ton backup heat staging assistance please
Last Post 12 Jan 2015 07:46 AM by joe.ami. 4 Replies.
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popfizz7User is Offline
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07 Jan 2015 11:05 AM
I have a CM Tranquility 27 that was installed in fall of ’08 and put in to use in the spring of ’09 in a newly constructed home. I have been less than pleased with the system performance, reliability and customer service from Climate Master but have come to accept that this is how they have chosen to run their business. This is nor here nor there as at this point as I have been able to get the system repaired with assistance of my distributor, a different technician, research and configuration and a lot of headache. The purpose of this post is to figure out what I need to do to stage my emergency/back up heat strips. I have a single 10kW and a single 5kW heat strip installed. The model number of the heat strip system is “AG Series, AGL15A, Serial Number L14296442. According to the installation literature this system is capable of staging the heat strips for EH1 & EH2. All you need to do is change the jumper terminals 1-4 & 2-3. Currently mine has 1-2-3 all jumpered together. This jumper setting turns on the 10kW and the 5kW at the same time. My thermostats (Honeywell Prestige 2.0) also have the ability to stage the backup heat (EH1 & EH2). My Zone Controller (Honeywell HZ432) has the ability to stage the backup heat (W1/E, W2 & W3). The CXM processor in my Tranquility 27 has the ability to provide EH1 and EH2 to the AGL15A. The problem is that the Fan Controller within the Tranquility 27 does NOT have the ability to stage the emergency heat. There is only one connection point on the fan controller for the heat strips (W). So (W1/E) and (W3) from the Zone Control board are tied together at this locations terminal point. The fan controller part number is 17B0019N01. This is the ECM interface board version II. Does anyone know if there is a replacement Fan Controller that can handle two inputs for emergency/backup heat? As always calls to Climate Master have turned out to be a waste of time. The original installer is pretty much worthless and the other nearest ClimateMaster Installer/Technical Resource is 1 ½ hours away. I am a programmer/engineer and possess the technical ability to make my own hardware/configuration changes to the system. I am just having trouble locating specifics and compatible equipment to achieve what I need to do. Thanks in advance!
G.O. JoeUser is Offline
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07 Jan 2015 07:22 PM
-The ECM II board has only one speed tap for AUX. Just make sure fan speed exceeds 1350 min cfm for 15KW total. There are no other options available. -The CXM board "W" will engage EH1 immediately and EH2 after 5 minutes. There are no other options. -The AGL15A has dips or jumpers to select Stage1 aux 5KW(default) or 10KW with Stage2 aux what ever remains. IOM here http://www.climatemaster.com/geothermal-dealer/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/97b0005n04-climatemaster-ag-series-electric-heaters-installation-manual.pdf
popfizz7User is Offline
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07 Jan 2015 08:13 PM
Thanks for the reply joe. I am already familiar the document attached to the link. However I was NOT aware of the 5 minute delay between EH1 and EH2. So the delay is a function of the CXM? That makes sense. I was really hoping to have this staging determined at the thermostat but it doesn't sound like that is possible without some engineering. I will make the jumper changes at the AGL15A again this weekend. This time I will put a stop watch on it and see if the second stage kicks on after the delay.
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08 Jan 2015 06:35 PM
I also have a Tranquility 27, although only the two-ton. For electric strips I ordered the system with the minimal 5KW, then added a 1KW on my own. My reasoning was that during a really bitter cold period, if the system couldn't quite keep up with the heat loss, then I'd like to switch in a properly sized third stage for supplemental heat, instead of turning on a "huge 5KW beast," representing a whopping 67% of the unit's 2nd stage capacity. I wanted to reserve the combined 1+5 KW for really "emergency" heat, meaning unit failure. I also have a zoned system, using a EWC UZC4 zone control board. That board has the ability to handle two stages on the compressor and another two of emergency heat. So I have the zone board turn on the little 1KW strip when it determines that 2nd stage still isn't keeping up with heat loss, and finally 4th stage. When emergency heat is requested at the thermostat, then of course both strips get staged on.

I have no idea if this setup works, and at present I have the breakers for the electric strips off. After nearly four years of operation, the unit keeps the house at temperature in just first stage, and there have been no unit failures. It just runs reliably.
joe.amiUser is Offline
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12 Jan 2015 07:46 AM
popfizz7, What do you see as the advantage of further staging the auxiliary heat. KW's of heat cost the same whether you buy them all at once or a little at a time. So if you need more KW's than your geo can produce, why not bring on the extras as quickly as possible and go back to just geo operation?
Joe Hardin
www.amicontracting.com
We Dig Comfort!
www.doityourselfgeothermal.com
Dig Your Own Comfort!
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